In which Anna, newly recovered and exhilarated by a fresh love abroad, reflects on the past with a blend of joy and uneasy detachment, while embracing the tender attentions of Vronsky amidst a life reshaped by choice and consequence. Vronsky, though seemingly fulfilled, finds himself restless and seeking distraction in art, discovering in portraiture a fleeting source of satisfaction amid the ennui that shadows their liberty.